She was being hunted down, so she became a magical girl.

The wooden stick fell from Huan Guang's hand with a resounding thud.

The girl, whose hands had been burned off, collapsed to the ground in agony. She bent down, trying to pick up the wooden stick with her teeth, but Xu Ting beat her to it.

"I'll do it."

Huan Guang looked up at Xu Ting, her eyes filled with expectation.

Although she could barely speak due to the excruciating pain, she still managed to say "Keep going" with all her might.

Xu Ting nodded, grasped the two wooden sticks, and faced Zhan Ye directly.

Zhan Ye's current posture resembled that of a demon crawling out of hell.

Although her waist was barely pieced back together, it was clearly misaligned, and a cold, eerie blue light shot out from the broken edge, revealing the painful fact that she had been ambushed.

"Even if you attack me two or three more times like that, you still won't be able to kill me."

After uttering those harsh words, she dragged her distorted body forward slowly, gradually stepping into the air.

A surge of magical energy emanated from Xu Ting's body.

Looking down, I saw that my hands and feet were gradually becoming transparent.

"I can't become invisible."

Xu Ting didn't even turn his head, and said,

"If Zhanye can't see me, she'll kill you all first."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Ye in the air burst into laughter:

"We're all about to die, why argue about who goes first?"

She pointed her sword at Xu Ting and arrogantly began to explain:

"My innate magic, [Karmic Flame], is a magic that cannot be shaken off once you are tainted by it. Unless I take it back voluntarily, you will be forever bound by the black flames."

"Although the Blazing Inferno cannot completely kill a magical girl, you will still suffer damage based on the crimes you have committed and will lose the ability to escape."

"The ruthless young lady, who had harmed countless citizens, was thus consumed by karmic flames."

"That sneaky little brat, her hands were burned to ashes, she was probably a habitual thief with a dirty hand."

"And you, the villain who attacked me from behind, have also come into contact with the Blazing Flame."

"What sins have you committed, and what punishment will you receive? I'm very curious."

Xu Ting felt a chill run down his spine.

I must have come into contact with Ye Yan while helping Gray Crow.

If Zhan Ye's explanation was not a strategic deception, then he had already fallen into an extremely unfavorable situation.

In terms of sins, she killed quite a few people; over eight years, her record was probably even more outrageous than that of the Grey Raven.

Even if I didn't kill them cleanly, who knows how Ye Yan will judge it?

"Xu Ting, don't worry."

"I am your contracted beast, we are one."

"I will help you bear the karmic flames; go ahead and do your best during this time."

The crow materialized from the void and spoke calmly.

"Alright, the karmic flames won't kill you. Just hold out for as long as you can."

Xu Ting glanced at the crow, then snapped two wooden sticks in half.

Two golden beams flew out from the wooden stick, one flying into Xu Ting's body, and the other being guided by Xu Ting into the military knife.

Flight magic, activated;

Weapon enchantment complete.

Four small wooden sticks: one for defense, one for mobility, and two for attack;

Gray Raven used up his defense, Xu Ting used up his attack, and the remaining two wooden sticks were just enough to handle this final battle.

Thanks to Huan Guang's ability to refrain from using her flying magic in such a critical moment, Xu Ting was able to approach the enemy in the sky.

With the mobility and attack capabilities of the Feathered-level, Xu Ting can win as long as he avoids being hit.

Seeing Xu Ting fly into the sky, Zhan Ye snorted coldly and detonated the karmic flames within Xu Ting's body.

But then her expression changed:

"How is that possible?"

"Why weren't you affected by the karmic flames?"

Xu Ting, enveloped in a faint golden light due to her flight magic, swung her sword at Zhan Ye, responding:

"Because I have accumulated good deeds and never done evil, can't you see the golden aura of merit protecting me?"

Bathed in black flames, the crows, transforming into roasted chicken, protested in discontent:

"Don't try to take credit for my work."

Zhan Ye gritted his teeth and blocked Xu Ting's attack, then seized an opening and unleashed his Blazing Flame once more.

Swish.

When the firelight died down, Xu Ting was not among them.

Zhan Ye was shocked to realize that his back was wide open, and he quickly drew his sword and turned to block.

Although he blocked the attack, Zhan Ye also suffered a loss due to his awkward power-generating posture.

The golden magic deflected Zhan Ye's right hand and slammed into her back.

Zhan Ye grunted as he was slammed against the wall.

Xu Ting pressed his advantage, but Zhan Ye's magic shield absorbed most of his force. Zhan Ye quickly regrouped and faced Xu Ting head-on.

The two clashed fiercely, and surprisingly, the higher-level Zhan Ye was at a disadvantage.

"Impossible. I can feel the karmic flames within your body. Your sins are immense, and they are clearly burning fiercely."

"But why are you completely unharmed—"

boom!

The clash of swords unleashed a tremendous burst of magical power that shattered the shield formed by Zhan Ye.

Xu Ting held the knife with both hands, exerted all his strength, and plunged the blade into Zhan Ye's chest.

With a thud, blood flowed from Zhan Ye's mouth again, dripping onto the blade.

Even with her highly prosthetic body, she would still suffer severe damage from bodily injuries.

"Good job. Her magic core is just three inches above your saber. Quickly kill her and stop the magic on me."

A certain roasting bird was jumping around and directing things.

"It hurts so much! Why did this damned magic punish me so severely?"

You wicked contracted beast who does nothing right, find your own excuse.

Xu Ting immediately exerted force upwards, and Zhan Ye sensed the threat, instinctively using his left hand to smash the military knife.

The saber veered off course due to the impact, failing to deliver the fatal blow.

Zhan Ye quickly created distance, and several arcs of electricity flashed from the wound on his chest.

Her chest was also modified with prosthetics.

Xu Ting sheathed his military knife, flicked it forcefully, and the blood was flung behind him, while the blade continued to radiate a dazzling golden light.

"I don't believe you can keep playing like this."

"Borrowed power always has a time limit. Once you've exhausted your power, crushing you will be easier for me than crushing an ant!"

—"Then I'll destroy the magic core in your heart before that happens."

She actually figured out the location of my magic core?

Zhan Ye gritted his teeth and began to retreat.

Although she was the one pursuing, she had no choice but to do so in order to play it safe.

The advantage of time is on her side; she only needs to delay and wait for the situation to change, just like Emperor Xuan of Jin during the Three Kingdoms period.

As Zhan Ye fled, she prayed that Xu Ting would show more sisterly affection and not abandon the immobile Gray Crow as she ran away.

If the thugs who attacked the factory escape, she might really lose her job.

Golden light attacked from behind Zhan Ye.

The bet was won.

Zhan Ye dodged the attack and was delighted to see Xu Ting coming to pursue him.

Even more remarkably, the golden light emanating from the opponent was gradually dimming, clearly indicating that the magical effect of the wooden stick was about to end.

Having already flown a considerable distance, Zhan Ye saw this opportune moment, stopped, and turned to attack Xu Ting.

Another fierce exchange ensued.

But this time, Zhanye gained the upper hand.

"Your biggest reason for failure is that you don't want to get rid of those two burdens."

Zhan Ye brandished his weapon with sweeping, powerful strokes, speaking loudly and triumphantly.

She spoke to Xu Ting in a condescending tone, clearly believing she was certain of victory.

Xu Ting couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at?"

Zhan Ye asked, puzzled.

Xu Ting stopped laughing and replied:

"I laugh at your shortsightedness; even at a time like this, you still think they're a burden."

Zhan Ye was about to speak when he suddenly felt an even more intense pain than when he had been cut in two.

She lowered her head in fear.

The black flames of karma burned wildly on her body, her master.

"What have you done? You're actually using my magic against me?"

"That's not your magic, it's the magic of the Grey Raven."

After saying that, Xu Ting swung his sword and cut off Zhan Ye's left hand.